42nd Street

 

Review by Paul Towers, 24/6/25

42^nd Street by Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble, music & lyrics by Harry Warren, & Al Dubin

Directed & choreographed by Lee proud

Produced by Celia MacKay  

At Kilworth House Theatre til Sunday 13th July 2025

42^nd Street is the ultimate backstage musical. If you want to be pedantic it is ‘just’ a jukebox musical but it is so much more.

In 1930’s America inexperienced actress Peggy Sawyer (Mia Kobayashi) is wide eyed and naïve as she gatecrashes the auditions for Julian Marsh’s (Lewis Griffiths) latest show, Pretty Lady. Marsh’s career is on the line as his writers Maggie Jones (Rosie Strobel) and Bert Barry (TJ Lloyd) scrabble around to tweak the songs for the show. The star, Dorothy Brock (Michelle Bishop) is already past her prime and is only leading the show because she has brought her sugar daddy Abner Dillon (Pete Gallagher) on board to sponsor the tour.

Right from the off Peggy has attracted the eye of the juvenile leading man, Billy Lawlor (Brian O’Muiri) who shows her the ropes. Also being shown the ropes is Dorothy Brock’s boyfriend Pat Denning (Tim Rogers) who is being careful to avoid Dorothy’s sugar daddy.

While Dorothy’s acid put downs are tolerated for the sake of the show it is with a sigh of relief when she falls and breaks her ankle. Cue a scramble for someone to take over the lead and save the show. Despite having been fired by Julian Peggy is persuaded to return to the company as the only one with enough talent to pull off the lead at short notice. Julian Marsh drills Peggy to the point of exhaustion to get her ready for opening night and sends her out on stage with the iconic words "You're going out there a youngster, but you've got to come back a star!", and she does.

This all allows for a slew of songs, virtually every one of them hummable. While the lead actors play out the story it is the exceptional ensemble who tap their hearts out in almost every scene. Their energy and enthusiasm is plain to see and really makes the show shine.

Lee Proud’s direction and choreography are once again spot on with an adaptable set by Philip Wilcomb making full use of the limited stage. A full orchestra of 10 is presided over by Rick Coates and  gives a fullness to the show.

So come and meet those dancing feet at the sublime Kilworth House Theatre this summer. This year we are being spoiled as Grease is also taking up residence from 29 July til 7 September.

Pics: Fox Corporate Photography

https://www.kilworthhouse.co.uk/kilworth-house-theatre/

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/ 

Strangers on a train

 

Review by Paul Towers, 16/6/25

Strangers on a train by Craig Warner

Directed by Martin Bell

Produced by Leicester Drama Society

At The Little Theatre til Saturday 21^st June 2025

Imagine if you could murder someone and get away with it.

That is exactly what Charles Bruno (Keir Watson) plans to do. A chance meeting with Guy Haines (Michael King) on a train in mid-century America is the spark for putting his plan into action. Both men have people in their lives they would rather were not there and Bruno’s plan would liberate them both.

That said, Bruno is completely serious while Guy Haines is merely amused by the possibility. As their train journey progresses it becomes obvious that Haines is easily manipulated by Bruno and a pact is cemented. Haines is to kill Bruno’s hated father thus allowing him to live an hedonistic life on his inheritance. Bruno will return the favour by disposing of Haines’ current wife leaving him free to marry his girlfriend Anne (Laura Brookes).

Both men have unconventional lives. Charles Bruno has what seems to be an incestuous relationship with his mother Elsie (Karen Gordon) and Guy Haines is balancing the two women in his life.

Trying to bring some normality are Haines’ secretary Frank Myers (Joe Middleton) and Robert Treacher (Joff Brown) his business partner. But it is retired police officer Arthur Gerard (David Lovell) who picks at Charles’ story and starts to unravel his lies.

The original story of Strangers on a Train is by Patricia Highsmith, the author of another story of emotional manipulation, The Talented Mr Ripley.

Strangers on a Train is at The Little Theatre until Saturday 21^st June. Grab a ticket and see if you can work out who survives this web of lies and deceit.

Pics by Jonathan Pryke

https://thelittletheatre.co.uk/

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/ 

Mrs Warren's Profession

 

Review by Paul Towers, 11/6/25

Mrs Warren’s Profession by George Bernard Shaw

Directed by Dominic Cooke

Produced by Sonia Friedman Productions

At Garrick Theatre until Saturday 16^th August 2025

I admit that, in the past, I have been a bit of a philistine and viewed the likes of George Bernard Shaw as too elite for my tastes. How wrong I was.

Currently being revived at London’ Garrick Theatre, Shaw’s Mrs Warren’s Profession is a delight, even at 1 hour 45 minutes without an interval.

The titular Mrs Warren (national treasure Imelda Staunton) is a business woman with many secrets held from her estranged daughter Vivie (her real life daughter Bessie Carter). The elder Mrs Warren, Kitty, has grown from being a prostitute to the part owner of a string of high class brothels across Europe. While not proud of the means by which she has progressed, Kitty is not ashamed. A poor childhood has propelled her to achieve what many women of the late 1800's could not. Independence.

Vivie has just come down from university, paid for by her mother’s ill-gotten gains, to get better acquainted with her often absent parent. Being a highly principled, intelligent independent young woman she is torn between admiration for how her Mother has bucked the system and the way she has earned her money. Money which she views as tainted even though it has paid for her education.

This is a very rare opportunity to see the pairing of Mother and  daughter on stage and one to be savoured.

A stella cast including Staunton, Carter, Robert Glenister (the vile Sir George Crofts) and Kevin Doyle (an hilarious vicar caught with his metaphorical trousers down) are joined by the young Reuben Joseph (Frank Gardner) and Sid Sagar (Mr Praed).

A clever set comprising a huge revolving circular garden is gradually stripped by  coteries of hand-maidens to indicate the passing of time. Until finally the bare stage has a curved wall lowered behind it to become the office that Vivie retreats to and where she and her Mother have their final stand-up row, thus severing their relationship.

https://thegarricktheatre.co.uk

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/ 

Ghost Stories

 

Review by Paul Towers, 3/6/25

Ghost Stories by Jeremy Dyson & Andy Nyman

Directed by Jeremy Dyson, Andy Nyman & Sean Holmes

Produced by Melting Pot Productions & Lyric Hammersmith

At Curve til Saturday 7^th June 2025

The first rule of Ghost Stories is you don’t talk about Ghost Stories. So, no spoilers here.

All I can tell you is that Professor Goodman (Dan Tetsell) is giving a lecture on whether or not ghosts are real, whether supernatural things do happen. He is an arch sceptic so is looking to debunk sightings.

To this end he presents three stories that may or may not be true. They involve Tony Matthews (David Cardy) a night watchman, Simon Rifkind (Eddie Loodmer-Elliot) a teenage boy and Mike Priddle (Clive Mantle) a businessman awaiting the birth of his first child.

With writing by Jeremy Dyson (League of Gentlemen) and Andy Nyman (Derren Brown) it is no surprise that Ghost Stories is full of shocks, illusions and downright horror. This show is not for the faint hearted with an age recommendation of 15+.

Kudos have to go to Jon Bausor for his clever set and, of course, James Farncombe’s lighting and Nick Manning’s sound design. Both adding huge amounts to the scare factor of the show.

Ghost Stories is at Curve until Saturday 7^th June and then continues touring

www.curveonline.co.uk

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/